PPMH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Earns National Certification

Cardiac Rehab 4Albany, GA | September 4, 2025 – The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (PPMH) has earned certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This national recognition demonstrates Phoebe’s commitment to improving the quality of life for patients by maintaining the highest standards of care and rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to help patients with cardiovascular problems – including heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and other cardiac conditions – recover faster, regain strength, and live healthier lives. The program combines supervised exercise, education, counseling, and support for patients and their families.

“Rehabilitation is often a critical component of the care our patients need to return to good health. This certification recognizes the dedication our entire team exhibits every day to ensure our patients have access to the best and most comprehensive cardiac care,” said Mark Cohen, MD, Phoebe Medical Director for Cardiology.

Cardiac Rehab 3To achieve the prestigious certification, PPMH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program underwent a rigorous application process that required extensive documentation of program practices and outcomes. The AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-reviewed accreditation process in this field, ensuring that certified programs adhere to the highest standards developed by AACVPR and related professional societies. Certification is valid for three years.

In 2018, AACVPR moved to an outcomes-based process with performance measurements that represent more meaningful outcomes. Therefore, AACVPR-certified programs are leaders in the cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation field because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proven track records of high-quality patient care.

Cardiac Rehab 2“This achievement is a milestone for Phoebe and reflects the expertise of our staff as well as the compassion and encouragement they provide to every patient who walks through our doors. For families across southwest Georgia, this certification is a reassurance that Phoebe is here to help them recover, rebuild, and live healthier lives,” said Lindsay Snow, Director of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Cardiovascular Services.

  • 6 recumbent cross trainers
  • 6 treadmills
  • 1 metabolic cart that measures a person’s oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide exhalation during activity
  • 1 telemetry monitoring system for cardiac and pulmonary exercise monitoring
  • 1 workstation for independent patient evaluations
  • 1 laptop and iPad monitoring system

Cardiac Rehab 1

“This is one of many examples of philanthropy in action at Phoebe. This new equipment has already made a tremendous difference in the way our rehab team cares for patients, giving them the ability to monitor patients more closely, customize their programs, and provide them with the confidence and support they need to achieve their goals safely,” said Parker Douglas, Phoebe Foundation Director. “We thank all the many donors to the Phoebe Foundation for helping us enhance the healthcare available in our community.”

Anyone interested in donating to the Phoebe Foundation may do so at www.supportphoebe.org.

About AACVPR

Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Learn more about AACVPR at www.aacvpr.org.